Method and apparatus for packaging rolls



Aug. 4,A 1936. .1. E. BLossER ET Al. 2,049,759

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING ROLLS Filed May 8, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet l I" Bgm/Ay ATTORNEY.

Aug. 4, 1936. J. E. BLossER ET AL.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING ROLLS Filed May 8, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 HHHIIHHHHH WHW www@ m I m O M 1| V m M WN PAM z//f/ff WW i ATTOR Y.

Aug- 4, 1936- J. E. BLossER ET A1. 2,049,759.'

METHOD ANDY APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING ROLLS Filed May 8, 1935 4 sheets-'sheet 3 ATTORNEY.

Aug. `4, 1936. 2,049,759

J.E.BLOSSER TAL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING ROLLS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 8, 1935 W' im null ,UHUv

ATTORNEY Patented ug. 4, 193' Y UNITED STAT-Es METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING ROLLS `John Edward VBlosser, Glens Falls, and Paul Burke, South YGlens, Falls, N. Y., assignors to Veldown Company, Inc., a corporation of New York Application May s, 1935, serial No.V 20,328

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to an improvement in a machine and Vmethod for the automatic packaging of rolls of tissue paper. 'Ihe object of the invention is todevise means whereby rolls of tissue paper can be wrapped in an outer covering of paper or similar material at a very high rate of speed, and without there being any possibility of manual handling of the the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawings:l

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the wnapper applyy ing mechanism comprising a portion of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side. elevation of the wrapper shaping mechanism comprising a portion of the invention, the mechanism of this figure adjoiningv the right end of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 1; Y

Fig. 3 is a cross-section in elevation of the mechanism of Fig. 2 taken alo-ng line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detail view on an enlarged scale of` `-one of the wrapper folding elements;

Fig. 5is anv enlarged cross-sectional view taken n longitudinally of the *mechanismr of Fig. 1, and partially in schematic representation illustrating `the wrapper gumming mechanism in operation;

the gumming mechanism'retracted and arol'l being wrapped in the previously rgummed wrapper;

Fig. 7 is a schematic view in side' elevationV of the wrapper forming elements in partially open position;

Fig. 8 is an end elevation of Fig. 7; Y Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 7 showing th wrapper folding elements in their substantially nal position; and

Fig. 10 is a similar View showing the wrapper forming elementsin their final position.

Referring to'Fig. l,v there is represented a frame comprising a table 20 to which rolls of paper 55'vv are fed by means of conveyingmechanism (of nection with the following description, set forth Fig. 6 is a `View similar to Fig.r5 and showingr any suitable type, not shown) as said rolls are ejected from roll forming mechanism, such as described in the copending application of John Edward VBlosser and Paul Burke, Serial No. 750,784, filed October 31, 1934. 5

Positioned beneath the table is a motor 2| or other suitable source `of power driving a main shaft 22 by means of a belt 23 and` pulley 24. A sprocket 25 fixed to shaft 22 drives a shaft 26 located above the table by means of a chain l0' 2i and a suitable sprocketY fixed to shaft 26. At the receiving end of table 2&1A there is located a shaft 33 parallel to and at the same height above table 2B as shaft 26. A plurality of beltsv 3i are passed about suitablev pulleys on shafts l5 25 and 33, the lower laps of which are located at a suitable distance abovertable 20 frictionally to contact the top of' a roll A delivered thereto (Fig. 6). There are at least two belts 3l suitably spaced in order that the central portion of the 20 roll A may be contacted by sensing mechanism for controllingV the operation of gumming mechanism.V

The gumming mechanism comprises a pair of fountain rolls 32 and 33 between which is situ- 25 ated a magazine 34 supporting a plurality of wrappers 35, The magazine is supported by aV rod 36 guided in brackets on the framework. to which is attached a link 3l having its free end connected to a lever 38 pivoted to the framework 3() 3?, has its` lower surface contacting a bath of 40 adhesive and is, continuously rotated by means of a chain 45 driven by shaft25. Roll32 is likewise dipping into a bath of adhesive and is continuously rotated by means .of a chain 46 driven through intermediate gearing 4'1- and a 45' chain 48 driven by a shaft 30. A transfer roll 50 carried by an arm 5| contacts the surface of roll 32 and a transfer roll 52 carried by an arm 53 contacts the surface of roll 33 and is continuouslysuppled with a film of adhesive Vin the. 50 Y usual manner of such devices. Arm 5| is fixed to a shaft to which is ailixed a crank plate and arm 53 is fixed to a similar shaft to which is aiiixed asimilar crank plate 56. A connecting rod 5"!` joins the two crank plates for rota- 55 tion at the same time and to the same extent, but in opposite directions. A driving rod 58 is pivoted to connecting rod 51 and extends to one end of a crank 59 fixed to a rock shaft 60 mounted on a bracket 6| supported on table 20. An arm 65 affixed to rock shaft 60 carries a roller 66 located between the belts 3| and normally extending downwardly into the path of any object being rolled forward over the surface of table 20 by the friction of its upper extremity with the belts 3|. The upper end of lever 59 is connected to a link G1 pivoted toI a crank 68 fixed to a rock shaft 69 at the opposite end of the bracket 6|. An arm 10 similar to arm 65 carries a roller 1| similar to roller 66 and similarly positioned. The linkage is such that when roller 68 is in the position illustrated in Fig. 1, roller 1| must be maintained above the lower lap of belts 3| and out of contact with any object driven thereby, and vice versa.

TheV operation of the mechanism described is as follows: A roll of tissue paper may be fed manually or by gravity in a chute into contact with the lower lap of belts 3|. As the roll of tissue paper or other object revolves over the surface of table 20 it will be brought into contact with roller 66, raising said roller and forcing driving rod 58 and connecting rod 51 toward the right end of Fig. 1. This motion is translated to the transfer rolls 50 and 52 whereby they are revolved toward each other through openings in table 20 and into contact with the end edges of the uppermost wrapper B, thereby applying a bar of adhesive 15 to the forward edge of the wrapper B and a bar of adhesive 16 to the rear edge of the wrapper B (Figs. 5 and 6). The roll A is now driven beyond roller 66 and contacts roller 1| which has been lowered by the connecting linkage. Roller 1| is now raised thereby reversing the transfer rolls 50 and 52 and repositioning them below the table and against the fountain rolls 32 and 33, respectively. By the same action roller 66 is relowered into the position illustrated in Fig. l. In this fashion a fresh, moist bar of adhesive is placed upon the wrap immediately before the roll of paper contacts the wrap. The roll A (Fig. 6) now rolls onto the wrapper B and upon contacting bar 15 kadheres to wrapper B and rolls itself into the wrapper. Wrapper B is slightly longer than the circumference of roll A and bar 16 will adhere to the outer surface of the wrapper, there being sufficient overlap to provide an efficient joint.

The wrapped roll is progressed to the end of table 20 and by reason of its inertia, or by reason of being contacted by a succeeding roll tends to drop from the end of table 20 into the mechanism shown in Fig. 2, which it is allowed to do at the proper instant, as will appear.

Shaft 22 drives the mechanism of Fig. 2

through a chain and a sprocket 8| (Fig. 3)

attached to a shaft 82. Shaft 82 carries other sprockets and cams whereby various parts of the mechanism are operated in synchronism. One of said sprockets 83, drives a chain 84 which rotates a second shaft 85. Fixed to shaft 85 is a mutilated gear 86 meshing with an interrupted gear 81 xed to a third shaft 88.

Gear 8B is provided with teeth for approximately one-third of its circumference, the remainder thereof being smoothly surfaced. Gear 81 is provided with three spaced sets of teeth and interrupting smooth concave surfaces. The operation of the gears is to rotate shaft 88 a third of its circumference once for every revolution of shaft 85, the action being well known and similar to a Geneva movement except that the velocity of gear 81 is constant rather than sinusoidal. Shaft 88 carries a large sprocket 89 which drives a shaft 90 through a chain 9|. Shaft 90 is connected to a sprocket conveyor roll about which is positioned a sprocket conveyor chain 96 passing about an idler sprocket conveyor roll 91. Chain 96 carries spaced pockets 98 each of a size to receive a paper roll therein. The conveyor is intermittently advanced and intermittently progresses rolls delivered thereto through the wrapper forming mechanism.

Likewise fixed to shaft 82 (Fig. 3) is a sprocket |00 which through a chain 0|, (Fig. 2) and sprocket |02 drives a shaft |03 to which is fixed a cam |04. A lever |06 supported in the frame carries a cam follower and is rocked by the cam |04 to operate a rock shaft |01 carrying a crank |08 to which is `xed a link |09 extending upward to the end of table 20. Table 20 is provided with a downwardly extending lip I0. Extending through slits in the lip ||0 are a plurality of fingers affixed to a rock shaft ||2 operated by link |09 through a crank I3. Suitably mounted upon an extension of the frame is a plate |5 so spaced from table 20 as to allow a roll to pass between the edge of the table and the plate, but so close as to prevent passage of the roll when the fingers are projected through the lip ||0. Since cam |04 is operated inr synchronism with the movements of conveyor- 96, the roll will not be permitted to leave table 20 until a pocket 98 is momentarily stopped in position to receive it. As soon as the roll is in position, it is centere by the following means: At the opposite ends of shaft 82 there are provided ring cams |20, operating suitable mechanisms. The mechanisms at each side of the table are duplicates so that only one need be described. Pivoted to the base of the frame is a large lever |2| carrying a cam follower |22 bearing `against the edge of cam |20. A strong spring |23 extended between levers |2| serves to keep the rollers in contact with the cams. The upper extremity of lever |2| is forked and embraces a plunger |24 guided in a bracket |25 mounted upon the frame. Through a pin and slot connection lever |2| imparts reciprocal movement to plunger |24. The pin in this instance comprises a horizontally disposed rod |26 extending toward the end of table 20. Plunger |24 is feathered into bracket |25 so thatit is prevented from rotating and rod |26 is maintained in horizontal disposition. Rod |26 is bent inwardly above roll 91 (the inwardly bent portion thereof being supported by a bracket |21 which prevents rotation of rodV |26 about its axis) and carriesV at its inner extremity a disc |21. The wrapped roll, as it is dropped into pocket 98, carries the wrapper B as a cylindrical extension of the surface of the roll. During the v'time that movement is imparted to the sprocket chain 98 and roll A is dropping into the pocket, disc |21 is maintained beyond the edge of wrapper B due to lever |2| being held in the dotted line position (Fig. 3). As soon as the conveyor comes to a stop the roll settles into the pocket and disc |21 (which is larger than the central orifice of the roll A) is moved inwardly and contacts the end of the roll. The disc |21 at the opposite end of theroll is also moved inwardly and the roll A is accurately centered in the machine thereby. It is of no moment that the wrapper B may be slightly off-center with respect to the Loosely mounted upon shaftt|41 is an arm-|10 machine, however unlikelyitis that it willbe. Before the next forward rmovement v4of conveyor 96 occurs, discs |21 aregretracted and maintained beyond the edges lof wrapper B.

The next engagement of the intermittentgearingwill move the pocket 98 carrying Vthe centered roll from above roll 91 to a position above shaft 82 and in line with the plungers |24. During the. forward movementthe roll A is maintained iny firm contact with the pocket 08 by the lower lap of a plurality of belts |30jpassing about suitable rolls |3| vand |32 mounted in the frame, roll |3|' being driven through sprockets and a chain |33 driven `byishaft 90.- Chain A| 331s reversed in order to impart the correctdirection -of travel of belts |30. As soon as the conveyor 96 comes to rest the edges of wrapper B are shaped by the following mechanism: Mounted upon shaft 82 is a box cam |40, operating a yoked pitman |4| having a cam follower guided in the cam track. Pitman |4| extends upward to a crank |42 xed to a rock shaft |43 mounted in the frame of the machine. The opposite end of rock shaft |43 carries a sprocket |44 about which passes a chain |45. Chain |45 passes about the sprockets on three other rock shafts |46, |41 and |48 and about an idler sprocket |49 mounted in the frame of the machine and serving as a chain tightener. Whatever rotation is imparted to rock shaft |43 is likewise imparted at the same time Yand extent to rock shafts |46, |41 and |48. Fixed to each of the four rock shafts are two folding hands |55 comprising a central supporting plate |56, lateral extensions |51 and fingers |58 extending parallel to the supporting plate |56 from each side of the lateral extensions |51 (Fig. 4). As clearly seen in Figs. 8, 9 and 10, the folding hands attached to rock shafts |41 and |43 are in alignment, and

the folding hands on rock shafts |46 and |48 areY in alignment, the first group, however, being oifset with respect to the second group so that the fingers |58 and supporting plate |56 of one set may interdigitate with the fingers and supporting plate of the opposed set as far as permitted by the lateral extensions |51. Figs. 7 and 8 diagrammatically illustrate the folding hands *as they have partially rotated from their outermost positions, their outermost positions being such as to allow clear passage of the roll A and the conveyor.

As soon as the conveyor comes to a stop rotation is imparted to the rock shafts and the folding hands pass through the position of Figs. 7 and 8 to the position of Figs. 9 and 10, thereby folding the laterally projecting ends of wrapper B into the shape shown in Fig. 9. Inasmuch as the motion of the folding hands is arcuate, a more or less regular appearance will be imparted tothe end of the roll by reason of all overlaps of the wrapper B being in the same direction. At this time, due to the shape of the cam track of cam |40, the folding hands will be held in their innermost positions during-the time that levers |2| move to their full line position in Fig. 3. The inner ends of plungers |24 are of such diameter that they may be moved longitudinally of the quadrangular bore provided by the lateral extensions |51. As seen in Fig. 10 the edges of wrapper B will be engaged by the inner ends of plungers |24 and moved inwardly into the axial bore of the roll A. Upon retraction of the plungers the wrapper will remain in the position illustrated in Fig. 10.

In order positively to hold the roll in position during the time that the wrapper is being formed around it the following mechanism is employed:

the arm |10. Upon rotationof shaft |41-to raiseV itsrfolding handscrank V|13 will be rotatedinY a counter-clockwise direction, the pin .|14 engaging arm |10 and raising the clamp |1|.

. Upon the nextfeeding'movementof conveyo 96 the completely wrapped roll is brought to fthe' end of the frame and drops from the bucket into a chute provided by downwardly extending plates V|15 and |16. 'I'he roll is nowrstood on end by the following mechanism: The continuously driven shaft is provided with a sprocket which drives a chain |80 and a shaft |8|. The upwardly travelling lap of chain |80 also drives a sprocket |82 fixed to a lower shaft |83. Shaft |8| drives a belt |84 and shaft |83 drives a belt |85 so spaced as to contact the opposite sides of the roll. The roll is raised upward between the belts onto a table |86, upon which table there are mounted shafts and rolls supporting the forward extremities of belts |84 and |85. The rolls pass upward through an opening in the table, adjacent one side of which is placed a guide rod in position to raise one end of the roll as it is fed thereto. 'I'he succeeding rolls force the preceding rolls onto the surface of table |86 and in so doing the rolls are stood on end by the guide rod |90. An attendant removes the rolls and packs them into cartons for shipment.

'I'here has'beendescribed and illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention. Modifications in arrangement and detail will be apparent to those skilled in the art and the scope of the invention is to be taken as covering such modifications and alterations in so far as protected by the following claims.

We claim:

1. Means to form the projecting ends of a wrapper about the ends of a roll of paper or the like positioned therein comprising, a plurality of pivotally mounted folding hands, and means to rotate said hands in the same direction and normal to the axis of the roll toward a central position, said means comprising a plurality of sprockets and a single chain engaging and simultaneously rotating each of said sprockets in the same direction and to the same extent.

2. InV a machine for wrapping an object having an axial bore, such as a roll of paper or the like, means to wrap the object in a wrapper longer than the circumference `of said object and wider thanr said object, a conveyor having a pocket within which the object and the appliedV wrapper is positioned, means to progress said conveyor intermittently, means to center said roll relative to said conveyor, means comprising a plurality of folding hands actuated thereafter to form the projecting ends of said wrapper over the ends of the object between successive movements of said conveyor, and means to tuck the longer than the circumference of said object and Wider'than said object, a conveyor having a pocketwithin which the object and the applied wrapperV is positioned, means to progress said conveyor intermittently, means to center said object relative to said conveyor, means actuated there# after to form the projecting ends of said wrapper over the ends of the object between successive movements of said conveyor, and means to tuck the .extreme ends of the wrapper into the bore of said object, said tucking means comprising a pair- 4, InV a.v machine for wrapping a cylindrical1 object, means for applying a Wrapper about said object withV the endsv thereof projecting beyond said object, and means to form the projecting ends of said wrapper over the ends of said object comprising a plurality of folding hands and means to rotate said hands towardfa central position, each said hand consisting of a supporting plate, lateral projections at each side of said plate intermediate the ends thereof, and parallel fingers carried by said projections, said ngers being interdigitated during the rotation of said hands.

JOHN EDWARD. BLOSSER. PAUL BURKE. 

